Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Operation Cookie Cutter

You may know by now that I have a thing for vintage cookie cutters. A real big thing. I haven't counted lately, but I would not be surprised if I have over 200 in my collection. Possibly more. Yikes. Like I said, I have a thing.

Part of my "thing" is that I am trying to collect three sets of cutters, one for each of my kids. You see, when I was growing up, gathering with friends and family to bake and decorate a huge heap of frosted sugar cut-out cookies was a treasured Christmas tradition. I inherited all of my mother's cookie cutters, most of which date from the 1950s and 1960s. These shapes include the old standards of bell, Santa, reindeer, tree, and star, but also more obscure ones like a rooster, fish, crown, donkey, turkey, station wagon and hen. My goal is to collect as full of a set as I can for each child. And I've been fairly successful.

One day last fall, when I had nothing better to do, I laid out all my cookie cutters on the dining room table and matched them all up. I then counted how many I had of each design. The results were a little shocking! Who needs 9 stars?! Seven identical Christmas trees? Even this scientific proof of overkill did not dissuade me from collecting more, and I have continued to add to my collection, even when I know I shouldn't.

I found these cute tins on super clearance at Home Goods a few weeks ago, and now I have divided up two sets of cutters to be packed away in these tins, one for each of my girls. My son will also receive a set, but I decided to hold out for a tin that might be just a little more masculine. Not that he would mind now, but perhaps when he is in his 20s or 30s, he would appreciate something just a little less...well, pink.

I am working on creating a little booklet of family Christmas traditions--complete with some awesome vintage photographs, menus and recipes, and wonderful family stories. It is not at the top of my to-do list, but if it happens to get done anytime soon, I will be sure to share! Until then, I am just happy to have these cutters safely tucked away.